Weil Gotshal & Manges' London office has closed its third private equity deal this year, advising Advent International on its £190m acquisition of pension trust Xafinity from Duke Street Capital.

The Weil team – headed up by private equity partner Marco Compagnoni alongside finance partner Michel Nicklin and private equity partner Jonathan Wood – advised long-term client Advent on the buyout of the group, which employs 1,400 staff and oversees the payment of £11bn a year to UK pensioners.

Duke Street turned to SJ Berwin for advice with private equity partner Tim Wright leading the firm's team. Duke Street originally purchased Xafinity in 2005 for £115m.

Travers took a role advising Xafinity management with corporate chief Chris Hale leading the team supported by corporate senior associate David Marshall.

Compagnoni (pictured) told Legal Week: "Private equity is making a strong push and the debt markets are coming back. There are more lenders coming to market and the lending community is currently becoming more confident as each week goes by for transactions involving the top group of private equity houses and strong acquisition targets."

So far this year Weil Gotshal has advised Home Delivery Network on its acquisition of DHL Domestic from Deutsche Post DHL with Compagnoni taking the lead role, while the US firm acted for new client the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan on its debut European direct investment, with Wood heading up the firm's team.